| The perennial inability to get or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse is called erectile dysfunction (also known as male impotence). The word "male impotence" may also refer to other disorders that interfere with sexual intercourse and reproduction, such as lack of sexual desire and problems with ejaculation or climax. The use of the term erectile dysfunction makes it clear that those other disorders are excluded.
Some men suffer from chronic ED, and others have erection problems sometimes. Frequent erectile dysfunction can cause emotional and relationship problems, and often results in lowered self-esteem. It makes defining ED and estimating its incidence difficult. Estimates range from 15 to 30 mln, depending on the definition used.
Physical factors, for example blood vessel, nerve and penile abnormalities are at the root of male sexual problems.
In older men, ED normally has a physical cause, for example diseases, injuries, or side effects of medications. Any disorder that impairs penile nerves and blood vessels can trigger ED. Incidence increases with age: about 5% of 40-year-olds and 15-25% of 65-year-old males experience ED. Still, it is not an irrevocable aspect of aging.
Not being able to perform in bed affects man's self-esteem and confidence. Besides, it also severely damages his relationship with a sexual partner.
According to the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), for every 1, 000 males in the United States, 7.7 physician office visits were made for ED in 1985. By 1999, that figure had almost tripled. The increase occurred gradually, probably as treatments, for example vacuum devices and injectable drugs became more widely available.
In fact, erectile dysfunction is treatable regardless of age, and awareness of this fact has been raising. Now more men seek specialist aid and return to normal sex life because of bettered, effective treatments for ED. Depending on the severity and brings on of the erection problem, there are drug, mechanical, injection and surgery therapies.
One of the ways to better ED is to make some alterations in life-style. For some males, choosing a healthier life-style, such as quitting smoke, doing regular exercise, and reducing stress, may be all that is required to find relief. For those who need more intensive treatment, life-style changes in addition to other treatments can further help. |
